System and method for performing capsule endoscopy diagnosis in remote sites
A central site may provide downloading and processing services for a plurality of satellite sites that may perform capsule endoscope procedures. Processing may include reviewing image data acquired by a capsule endoscope and performing an at least partial analysis or review of the data reviewed. Health professions and/or physician in the satellite sites may prepare a report or diagnosis on the patient's condition based on the review and analysis performed by the central site
The present invention claims benefit from prior provisional application 60/668,602 filed on Apr. 6, 2005, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to in-vivo sensing for the diagnosis of a condition of the GI tract. More specifically the present invention relates to a system and method to at least partially perform diagnosis of a GI condition in a remote location.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONRecently, swallowable sensing devices, for example, imaging devices have been used for diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. The swallowable sensing device may typically provide imaging capability and a wireless data transfer capability. Typically, the sensing device may be configured to sequentially capture images of GI tract, (e.g. esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon) while passively advancing through the GI tract and finally being naturally excreted from the human body.
Image data taken in a body by the swallowable sensing device may be sequentially transmitted outside through, for example, radio communication and may be stored in a memory. A patient may for example carry a receiver that may have a radio communication capability and a memory capability. The patient may freely perform normal actions during the observation period that may begin after swallowing of the sensing device and end upon its excretion. After observation, a user, for example, a health professional may download images captured in-vivo and perform analysis of the GI condition for diagnosis purposes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one embodiment of the present invention a system and method may be provided where capturing of in-vivo data may be performed in one or more satellite sites and downloading and processing of data from each of the satellite sites may be performed in a typically single central site.
In some embodiments of the present invention the in-vivo data may be image data. In other embodiments of the present invention, the in-vivo data may be additional and/or other data from the GI tract.
In some embodiments of the present invention, data captured in-vivo may be wirelessly transmitted to an external recording device. In other embodiments of the present invention, the recording device may be equipped with a removable memory unit.
In some embodiments, there is provided a method for performing capsule endoscopy on a patient located at a satellite site remote from a central site, comprising the steps of:
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- initializing a recording device located external to the patient;
- obtaining in-vivo data of the patient from a capsule swallowed by the patient, the in-vivo
- data being transmitted wirelessly from the capsule to the recording device;
- providing the in-vivo data from the recording device to the central site; and
- analyzing the in-vivo data at the central site only.
In some embodiments, the step of providing the in-vivo data to the central site comprises transporting the recording device or a removable and/or mobile memory device which contains information from the recording device from the satellite site to the central site.
In other embodiments, the step of providing the in-vivo data to the central site comprises transmitting the in-vivo data from the recording device at the satellite site to the central site via the Internet, or wirelessly.
In some embodiments, the in-vivo data is transferred from the recording device to a portable memory device.
In some embodiments, the step of initializing the recording device comprises entering patient information data on the recording device.
In some embodiments, there may also be provided a system for performing capsule endoscopy, comprising:
- a satellite site at which a patient is located, the satellite site being provided with software for performing initialization of recording devices;
- a recording device that has undergone an initialization process at the satellite site and which is located external to the patient, for receiving wirelessly and for storing in-vivo data generated by a capsule swallowed by the patient; and
- a central site remote from the satellite site for analyzing in-vivo data stored in the recording device, only the central site being provided with software for analyzing the in-vivo data received from the satellite site.
In some embodiments, the recording device is transferred to the central site after the storing of in-vivo data generated by the capsule swallowed by the patient at the satellite site.
In some embodiments, the system further comprises a portable memory device for receiving in-vivo data from the recording device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the detailed description in the specification. The invention, however, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanied drawings in which:
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn accurately or to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity, or several physical components may be included in one functional block or element. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONIn the following description, various aspects of the present invention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details presented herein. Furthermore, well known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the present invention.
Performing in-vivo diagnosis of the GI tract, with for example, a swallowable imaging device, e.g. capsule endoscope may be more cost effective and accessible in remote rural areas with long travel distances and in places where population may be scattered if the data acquisition of the procedure may be done at a satellite site in proximity to the patient while either all or some of the downloading, processing, reading and/or interpretation of the procedure data may be performed in an alternate central review site. Data acquired from known swallowable imaging devices may include for example thousands of frames of image data acquired over long periods of time, e.g. six to eight hours. Other suitable periods of data acquisition and number of frames may be used. Downloading and reviewing the acquired data may be time consuming and may require purchasing of dedicated and expensive equipment and software. In addition, successful diagnosis based on the acquired data may require specia training of the health professional performing the procedure; In some embodiments of the present invention, the downloading and reviewing procedure may be transferred to a central review site that may be equipped with the required equipment and that may have trained health professionals experienced in analyzing the data acquired, i.e. in-vivo image data of the GI tract.
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It is noted that some embodiments of the present invention may be directed to an autonomous, typically swallowable in-vivo device. Other embodiments need not be swallowable. Devices or systems according to embodiments of the present invention may be similar to embodiments described in US Publication No. 20010035902 published on Nov. 1, 2001 and/or in U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,531 published on Feb. 18, 1997, each of which are assigned to the common assignee of the present invention and each of which are hereby fully incorporated by reference. Furthermore, a receiving and/or display system suitable for use with embodiments of the present invention may also be similar to embodiments described in US Publication No. 20010035902 and/or in U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,531. Devices and systems as described herein may have other configurations and other sets of components. Alternate embodiments of a device, system and method according to various embodiments of the invention may be used with other devices, non-imaging and/or non-in-vivo devices.
According to some embodiments the recording device 12 and/or the storage unit 19 may be initialized at the satellite site 200. The initialization process may include entering patient data or other identification means that should typically be appended to the in vivo data being collected. Device 12 and/or storage unit 19 may include inputting means for such identification means to be entered by, for example, the patient or physician at the satellite site. Alternatively or in addition, a satellite site 200 may be provided with appropriate software that may be used by a PC or other means to enable initialization of the recording device 12 and/or the storage unit 19 prior to the data capturing process.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the initialization process may include one or more of the following steps:
(i) Checking if the recording device 12 has already undergone previous initialization. The user may be prompted for approval to continue the initialization. The user may exit the initialization process at this stage without deleting data.
(ii) Checking if the recording device 12 has already downloaded data. The user may be prompted for approval to continue the initialization. The user may exit the initialization process at this stage without deleting data.
(iii) Checking for new software and hardware upgrades and performing the upgrades upon confirmation by the user. On completion of upgrade, the recording device may be removed from the cradle and automatically shuts itself down.
(iv) Erasing the storage of the recording device 12.
(v) Entering of patient information, which may include, for example, patient data such as the name of the patient, gender of the patient, the birth date of the patient. Site data, including details of the geographical location of the site, may also be entered.
(vi) Performing of built in tests and checking storage medium for bad sectors. If the built in tests fail, or if there are bad sectors, then the initialization process will be terminated.
(vii) Checking the battery cycle count & manufacture date.
(viii) Updating the real time clock in the recording device 12.
Step (i) of the initialization process may be included to ensure that if a given recording device has already undergone initialization and therefore it is in a state ready for receiving in-vivo data from a given patient, that it will not be mistakenly re-initialized by another patient thereby giving rise to the possibility that the in-vivo data to be received at a later time will include the wrong patient identity. Step (ii) of the initialization process may be included to ensure that if a given recording device has already undergone both initialization and storage of in-vivo data, that it will not be accidentally erased. Step (iii) may be used not only for checking and performing new software and hardware upgrades, but also in cases in which problems are encountered due to bugs which may have formed in the software or hardware.
Following the data capturing process recording device 12 and/or the storage unit 19 which include identification data (e.g., patient data, site data, etc.) and in-vivo data may be sent to the central site 100. According to some embodiments the information, including identification data and in vivo data may be sent in electronic format to the central site 100.
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In one embodiment of the present invention, patient check-in data may be attached, for example in a hard copy format to storage unit 19 at the termination of the data acquisition procedure and prior to sending data acquired to the central site. In other embodiments of the present invention, satellite site 200 may be equipped with a unit to enable saving of patient check-in data directly into storage unit 19. For example satellite site 200 may be equipped with an interface unit 30 that may enable transfer of data from for example a personal computer to the recording unit 12 or directly to the storage unit 19. According to some embodiments satellite site 200 may use special software to enable initialization of the recording unit 12 and/or the storage unit 19, by which patient information may be entered. Other suitable means of recording patient check-in data and/or matching patient check-in data to the in-vivo data acquired from the patient may be used. In other embodiments of the present invention, patient check-in data may be recorded via internet and/or intranet that may be accessible to the central site. For example, patient check-in data together with data to identify the recording device 12 and storage unit 19 and/or the procedure code may be used to match the patient with the captured or acquired data. Other suitable methods may be used.
According to an embodiment of the invention raw data obtained from a swallowable capsule at a receiver/recorder in a satellite site may be initially processed and then transferred to the central site. At the central site the data (either raw data or initially processed data) is then subsequently processed. Typically, initial processing is less complicated processing than subsequent processing. Typically, a satellite site uses less computational power for processing raw data (initial processing) than the computational power utilized for processing data at the central site subsequent processing).
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It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Alternate embodiments are contemplated which fall within the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A method for performing capsule endoscopy on a patient located at a satellite site remote from a central site, comprising the steps of:
- initializing a recording device located external to the patient;
- obtaining in-vivo data of the patient from a capsule swallowed by the patient, the in-vivo data being transmitted wirelessly from the capsule to the recording device;
- providing the in-vivo data from the recording device to the central site; and
- processing the in-vivo data at the central site.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing the in-vivo data to the central site comprises transporting the recording device or a removable and/or mobile memory device which contains information from the recording device from the satellite site to the central site.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing the in-vivo data to the central site comprises transmitting the in-vivo data from the recording device at the satellite site to the central site via the Internet.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing the in-vivo data to the central site comprises transmitting the in-vivo data from the recording device at the satellite site wirelessly to the central site.
5. The method according to claim 1 comprising the step of transferring the in vivo data from the recording device to a portable memory device.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of initializing a recording device comprises entering patient information data on the recording device.
7. A system for performing capsule endoscopy comprising:
- a satellite site at which a patient located, the satellite site being provided with software for performing initialization of recording devices;
- a recording device that has undergone an initialization process at the satellite site and which is located external to the patient, for receiving wirelessly and for storing in-vivo data generated by a capsule swallowed by the patient; and
- a central site remote from the satellite site for analyzing in-vivo data stored in the recording device, only the central site being provided with software for processing the in-vivo data received from the satellite site.
8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the recording device is located at the central site after the storing of in-vivo data generated by the capsule swallowed by the patient at the satellite site.
9. The system according to claim 7, further comprising a portable memory device for receiving in-vivo data from the recording device.
10. The system according to claim 7 wherein the in vivo data includes image data.
11. A system for performing capsule endoscopy, the system comprising:
- a swallowable imaging capsule said capsule wirelessly transmitting image data;
- a receiver/recorder to receive the image data;
- an initializing device to initialize the receiver/recorder; and
- a processor to process the received image data;
- wherein the initializing device and the processor are at remote locations from each other.
12. The system according to claim 11 wherein the initializing device is configured to initially process received image data, thereby producing initially processed image data and wherein the processor is configured to subsequently process the initially processed image data.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 6, 2006
Publication Date: Nov 9, 2006
Inventors: Mordechai Frisch (Moreshet), Jeremy Gerber (Netanya), Amir Rippel (Haifa), Alan Klevens (Roswell, GA)
Application Number: 11/398,717
International Classification: A61B 5/00 (20060101);